When I was a kid, I went to summer camp with John Robbin's son Ocean - they are such a sweet family! Anyway, what a great book! I have been eating morWhen I was a kid, I went to summer camp with John Robbin's son Ocean - they are such a sweet family! Anyway, what a great book! I have been eating more vegetables since I read it....more

I hate diets and diet books, but this book has great recipes for healthy whole grain and vegetable dishes. It's the ONLY vegetarian-friendly diet bookI hate diets and diet books, but this book has great recipes for healthy whole grain and vegetable dishes. It's the ONLY vegetarian-friendly diet book I've ever seen. The diet recommendations are so common sense than even someone who loves to eat a lot and drink beer, and hates dieting and being hungry (like me), can make a few small improvements, feel a lot better and lose a couple of pounds....more

This is the heartbreaking story of Lia, a Hmong girl with epilepsy in Merced. It is intended to be an ethnography, describing two different cultural aThis is the heartbreaking story of Lia, a Hmong girl with epilepsy in Merced. It is intended to be an ethnography, describing two different cultural approaches to Lia's sickness: her Hmong parents' and her American doctors'.

Don't read any further unless you don't mind knowing the basic story told in this book (there are no spoilers, since this is not a book with a surprise ending, but if you want to keep a completely open mind, stop now) ...

I have wavered between four and five stars for this one. The book is so beautifully and compassionately written - you feel for absolutely everyone in the story. Like Lia's doctors, you can't help but feel frustrated with Lia's noncompliant, difficult, and stubborn parents. At the same time, given their history, you can fully appreciate her parents' dislike of hospital procedures and distrust of distant, superior American doctors. There are no heroes or villains here. The book is perfectly balanced. When Lia ends up brain dead, your heart just hurts for everyone involved.

There are a couple of reasons I finally settled on four stars: (1) While the historical background provided in the book is excellent, it drags the story down. I felt it could have been better incorporated into an otherwise almost flawless narrative. (2) I found myself questioning the basic premise of the book. I'm not sure that cultural misunderstandings caused Lia's eventual "death" (brain-death, that is). Lia's epilepsy, by all accounts, was unusally severe and unresponsive to medication. So I was never convinced that a white, middle-class American girl would have survived with her mind in tact, either. This is not to dismiss the very real cultural struggle that this book describes, but some of the author's statements about how cultural misunderstandings "killed" Lia seemed a bit speculative to me.

But overall, this is an absolutely beautiful, touching book, and should be required reading for everyone in California (and everyone else, too)....more

Lots of good information about nutrition, but nothing earth-shattering. I guess I was hoping for more recipes? Especially since I don't see myself becLots of good information about nutrition, but nothing earth-shattering. I guess I was hoping for more recipes? Especially since I don't see myself becoming 100% vegan anytime soon, but I am trying to decrease the amount of dairy and eggs in my diet substantially. Well, part of my problem is that I was raised around vegetarians and vegans, so most of this information is a bit redundant for me. I recommend John Robbin's books instead....more

Updating this (after reading quite a few other books on childbirth), to reiterate that if you read one book about childbirth in your life, it should bUpdating this (after reading quite a few other books on childbirth), to reiterate that if you read one book about childbirth in your life, it should be one of Ina May's. While other books will scare you, this one empowers....more

I reread this to, um, brush up, before this next baby comes along. Having given birth once, some of the stories/anecdotes seemed crazier to me on thisI reread this to, um, brush up, before this next baby comes along. Having given birth once, some of the stories/anecdotes seemed crazier to me on this read. Like when Ina May tells a laboring woman: "Don't think of it as pain. Think of it as an interesting sensation that requires your full attention." And I'm like, hahahahahahaha. SURE. At the same time, on this second read, I understand better what she's trying to achieve by saying that. She's trying to change women view labor, shift their mind frame from pain to "energy." I don't know that I can do this personally, but I "get it" a bit better now....more

While I really like the laid back attitude of this book, it's almost too flexible. Flexible to the point of resisting dispensing any kind of advice. LWhile I really like the laid back attitude of this book, it's almost too flexible. Flexible to the point of resisting dispensing any kind of advice. Leaving me wondering why I bothered reading it, honestly. If you're feeling weighed down and intimidated by the judginess and dogmatic advice of various childbirthing "methods," this book is good for reminding you that there is no "right" way to give birth. But if you want actual advice or ideas, look elsewhere....more

Ah, the politics of childbirth. There is a lot of good information here, and I largely agree with the author, but found her aggressive polemics to beAh, the politics of childbirth. There is a lot of good information here, and I largely agree with the author, but found her aggressive polemics to be a turn-off at times. If you are looking for an indictment of the "obstetrical mindframe," this is your book. This book does a more-than-adequate job of telling you what you don't want when it comes to childbirth. But if you are looking for helpful hints on how to manage labor naturally (that is, what you do want), look elsewhere (specifically, you might want to try something by Ina May Gaskin). This book is likely to increase your anxiety about labor and childbirth rather than make you feel empowered to try natural childbirth. So while this is a great source of facts, it's not the most emotionally supportive guide I've come across....more

The first couple of chapters are informative, but The Nursing Mother's Companion is far more informative. The other 300 pages, explaining why breastfeThe first couple of chapters are informative, but The Nursing Mother's Companion is far more informative. The other 300 pages, explaining why breastfeeding is better than formula feeding, were really boring and repetitive. Obviously, it's good that someone is doing this research. But oh, the redundancy! And it's unbearably preachy at times, and I'm pro-breastfeeding....more

I'm loving all of the hateful reviews of this book and I think I need to read it just so that I can weigh in. That said, my midwife, who is a sensibleI'm loving all of the hateful reviews of this book and I think I need to read it just so that I can weigh in. That said, my midwife, who is a sensible and not excessively new-agey human being, has seen this work for women, so who knows?...more

This is probably the most helpful how-to book on labor and birth out there, and I highly recommend it, for pregnant women as well as their partners. IThis is probably the most helpful how-to book on labor and birth out there, and I highly recommend it, for pregnant women as well as their partners. It doesn't have the personal narratives that make Ina May Gaskin's books so wonderful, but everything you need to know is here. This is a great childbirthing class in a nutshell....more

We love this book and refer back to it often. But then, we are generally unapologetic co-sleeping baby-wearers. My hippy parents and their friends praWe love this book and refer back to it often. But then, we are generally unapologetic co-sleeping baby-wearers. My hippy parents and their friends practiced attachment parenting before the term "attachment parenting" was coined. I spent my early years in a commune where small babies slept with their parents, were never left to "cry it out" in a crib down the hall, and spent most of their time in someone's arms. This approach may not be for everyone, but because I was raised this way, it feels natural and right to me.

So, stepping away from the politics of child-rearing for a second, what I love about Dr. Sears is not that he converted me to his parenting method, but that his books are supportive of and elaborate on my existing parenting philosophy. I take some aspects of his methodology with a grain of salt, naturally, but what a relief to read a book that actually recommends co-sleeping for a change!

Of course, if you want to get your baby to sleep through the night in a crib in their nursery (and there's nothing wrong with that), this is not the book for you!...more

This is such a wonderful story! I enjoyed every moment. It reads like something your extremely interesting grandmother might have written, and the detThis is such a wonderful story! I enjoyed every moment. It reads like something your extremely interesting grandmother might have written, and the details of East End London life in the 50s are fascinating. However, it needed a better edit! So many typos! And it could have flowed so much better. At times the narrative jumps to an unrelated topic, or strangely colloquial statements are thrust into medical descriptions. It's a shame, because the amazing stories of midwifery in the slums and convent life merit an easy five stars, but the quality of writing deserves closer to three stars (actually, it wouldn't be so bad, if this was a draft rather than the final version - it really just needs a firm edit). Still, highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of midwifery or the East End....more

This is a bit redundant with Sears' The Baby Book, but full of useful information nonetheless. Especially, I appreciated the chapter on breastfeedingThis is a bit redundant with Sears' The Baby Book, but full of useful information nonetheless. Especially, I appreciated the chapter on breastfeeding for working mothers. The usual Sears bias towards stay-at-home-moms is here, but oddly, this book addresses the concerns of working mothers better than any other I have read thus far....more

Ah, Berkeley. I keep hearing about this whole "elimination communication" thing and want to know more ...

Post-skimming: I'm not sure it's fair to reviAh, Berkeley. I keep hearing about this whole "elimination communication" thing and want to know more ...

Post-skimming: I'm not sure it's fair to review this book without actually trying the methods. I do feel that this book, in combination with Diaper Free Before 3, have given me a solid basis to begin trying some early part-time potty training with my child. I will report back if this is successful....more

This is poorly-written and annoying to read, but I like the mellow approach to early (but not insanely early) potty training. If the advice works, I mThis is poorly-written and annoying to read, but I like the mellow approach to early (but not insanely early) potty training. If the advice works, I may up the stars.

Later: Now that the babe is six months old, sitting up (sort of), and eating solids, I started putting him on the potty several times a day. Initially, nothing happened, but in the last couple of days, we had a breakthrough, and now he frequently pees on cue! While some of the other EC books are better-written (though, let's face it, none of them are actually well-written), I really appreciate the very laid-back approach of this book, and the emphasis on eventual early potty-training, rather than a "diaper-free infant," which (while admirable) simply would not jive with my lifestyle as a working mom. I recommend this for folks who are not committed to 24/7 EC but want to get their babies comfortable with the potty before they become stubborn toddlers.

I'm giving the book three stars - awful style, some good content. I will report back again as we settle into our new routines around potty-training....more

I am 20 years late to this party: Ulrich got a Pulitzer for this book in 1991.

But it's still a rockin' partyOkay, this is how history should be done!

I am 20 years late to this party: Ulrich got a Pulitzer for this book in 1991.

But it's still a rockin' party!

This is pretty much everything I love, in one really excellent book. To wit: history, feminism, the role of domestic labor, birth, epidemiology, diaries, historical medicine, herbal remedies, science, gardening. I mean, it's like Laurel Thatcher Ulrich sat down and asked, "Exactly what kind of book would please Inder the most?" And came up with this idea. And then did a kick-ass job of following through.

I can see how this might not be everyone's cup of tea (no, I take that back, I can't see that), but I loved every word. I didn't want it to end. I raced through this history of pioneer settler life in the woods of Maine the way other people race through vampire porn or trashy crime fiction. Gah. So. Good. ...more

This was released on a Monday, I received it on Friday (Amazon pre-order), and I finished it Sunday. As a how-to manual, it's not my favorite (my favoThis was released on a Monday, I received it on Friday (Amazon pre-order), and I finished it Sunday. As a how-to manual, it's not my favorite (my favorite is Nursing Mother's Companion, but I love love love the anthropological background and all of the discussion of shared nursing arrangements, relactating, our society's "nipplephobia," etc. Good stuff.

Also, Ina May is refreshingly moderate about breastfeeding and weaning - unlike Dr. Sears and others, she resists slavish devotion to the attachment parenting model, instead deferring to the mother's feelings and common sense. I love Ina May!...more

I skimmed this. I am not interested in weaning right now or in the foreseeable future. And in fact, this book does more to dissuade the reader from weI skimmed this. I am not interested in weaning right now or in the foreseeable future. And in fact, this book does more to dissuade the reader from weaning than to offer helpful suggestions on how to wean, so I am glad I did not approach it actually wanting to wean!

I am still mulling over the book's statement that if your baby is breastfeeding enthusiastically at one year old, they will likely continue to do so until they are three. Uh oh....more

"Reads like a nineteenth century thriller set in South America, filled with high adventure andInformative and interesting? Yes, I'll grant you that.

"Reads like a nineteenth century thriller set in South America, filled with high adventure and botanical wonder, crisscrossing snowcapped mountains and jungle valleys"? Uh, not so much, Los Angeles Times.

I learned a lot from this slow to get going and at times rather dry history of malaria and quinine. And I admit, at times it almost got exciting. Almost. But I can only assume that the LA Times reviewer has never read an actual nineteenth century thriller, because those are quite a bit more interesting. There was certainly a lot of high adventure involved in the quest for the cinchona tree. Sadly, much of it is lost in this rather dry narrative.

Unless you are especially interested in malaria, epidemiology, or Andean history, you can skip this one. (If you are especially interested in any of these things, I actually recommend this book, but don't expect a thriller, per se.)

P.S. Packing every sentence with multiple place names? This may be more precise, but makes a book a bit rough-going. Thanks....more

This is not necessarily a bad book, but it was not what I was looking for. This is a book about very high IQ children who talk late but exhibit otherThis is not necessarily a bad book, but it was not what I was looking for. This is a book about very high IQ children who talk late but exhibit other signs of high intelligence. I would suspect that some of these children are at the very high functioning end of the ASD spectrum, myself, but the author does not address that (or disagrees). In any event, this is not a book describing general causes for speech delays, which is what I was looking for. One thing that gives me pause is that I wonder if this book will provide essentially false hopes to parents of late-talking children. Some children fit this high-IQ-late-talking profile, surely, but most do not. Telling parents that their late-talking child is just brilliant and not to worry ... well, it doesn't sit right with me. Most late-talking children have normal intelligence; some may have developmental problems that should be addressed sooner rather than later!! When in doubt, seek out expert advice, don't let your love for your child blind you to possible issues....more